Bicyclist Struck By DUI Driver, Critically Injured: Meriden Police

MERIDEN, CT — A man was critically injured when he was struck by a driver operating under the influence while he was riding his electric bicycle home from work last week, according to Meriden police.

The victim was riding an electric bicycle home from his job at Walmart in Wallingford around 11:40 p.m. on July 17, according to Sgt. Stanley Zajac. He was riding north in the northbound lane of Cook Avenue that is marked as a shared bicycle lane, according to Zajac.

Zajac said a 2017 Dodge RAM driven by Todd Wheeler was traveling north on Cook Avenue and struck the back of the bicycle.

The victim was thrown off his bike and was unresponsive when emergency services responded, according to Zajac. He was taken to Hartford Hospital and is listed in critical condition, Zajac said.

Wheeler was suspected of being intoxicated and failed standardized field sobriety tests, according to Zajac.

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Wheeler was arrested and charged with second-degree assault with a motor vehicle while intoxicated, driving under the influence of alcohol and or drugs, and reckless driving. He was held in lieu of a $10,000 bond.

Anyone with information, or may have video of the crash, is asked to contact the Meriden Police Department at 203-630-6201.